Itinerant Air-Cooled

Hi, my new bus is having trouble getting out of 4th. I have lubed and adjusted the shifter, all the gears go in like buttah. However, it randomly hangs up in 4th. If you wiggle/jiggle in just the right way it frees up. Engine running or shut off, same symptoms.

I noticed that the rear shift rod bushing is free floating out near the shift coupling, apparently broken off. Could this be the culprit, or are there bigger fish to fry?

I drove this bus 150 miles this way, but the shifting was pretty vague. The "sticking in 4th" just started occurring after adjustment, but who knows it could be an old problem. Someone was into the front shift rod pretty recently, I think I'm chasing someone's old tail here.
Thank you, I'm afraid the engine and transmission must come out...

"I noticed that the rear shift rod bushing is free floating out near the shift coupling, apparently broken off." Huh?

You mean where it connects to the transmission? The second bushing on the rear rod is a foot or so up the tube from the rod transmission coupling. Broken off? No comprende.


neal

Wow, a foot or so up...yeah it has slid all the way back to the rear tube opening, just a sliding ring of old yellow bushing.
It is looking like the trans must come out for $5 bushings. Crap! But it does seem like it could potentially be the problem.
My concern is pulling the works, replacing things, and then the bushings weren't the entire problem. How can I know if the transmission is OK ahead of time?

Due to tin issues etc. I was fighting pulling the engine but at least I have a reason now, potentially...
Crap!

Can you rig a small wire under it to hold up the rear shift rod to see if the issue resolves? Generously greased of course.


neal

I could, just not sure which way is "up"...it all depends on geometry.

Centered in the tube.

neal

Hanging in gear is a serious symptom, just before "locking in gear" transmission rebuild.
It arises from damaged synchronizer keys.

http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x133 ... g~original



With the engine off, clutch in, how is the shifting from 3rd to 4th and back to 3rd?
Colin
(p.s. that rear bushing will have very little effect on shifting UNLESS you can go under the bus *already in 4th gear* and see any possible interference with the coupler and the torsion tube or sumpin' else somewhere else all the way to the front where the shifter comes down)

Thank you Colin that was exactly what I was looking for.
Engine off, clutch in or out doesn't make any difference. If I get the rhythm and angle exactly right I can seem to find a "sweet spot" where it allmmmmmmmmost doesn't hang up. It does seem like there is slight mechanical weirdness/kachunk (slight) enaging 3rd and 4th.
I drove this bus up from Eugene; the shifting was horribly mis-adjusted but it didn't hang up in 4th that I remember...man a lot happens in 2 months.
I wonder if all the shift rod bushings are bad or improperly installed, that would cause issues. It's hard to guess. Is there any transmission troubleshooting I can do?
What was VW thinking, making you remove a transmission for a plastic bushing?
It's getting expensive getting an early Bay transmission rebuilt these days...
Rancho, 5 year warranty:
'68 - 70 002 IRS Bus Transaxle
$799.00
+undisclosed core (call for pricing!)

Neal, who rebuilt Bertha's trans? Wasn't that around $500?
I CAN and WILL get this bus back on it's toes.